6 replies to this topic

[Bombast]

So, I was just wondering, for all the people who have the Arctic Wolf, which is better? Has the ability to change engines and structure made the Battlemech version better than the Omnimech version? Or does it make no difference? Or are the omnimechs better?

There used to be a lot of talk about how battlemechs were 100% superior to omnimechs. Seems like a chassis with both options would make for a good discussion.

[El Bandito]

Notice how the omni version has fixed 240 engine, which means it lacks a truedub, but doesn't have heat quirks to make up for it, unlike the Adder, or the Cougar. Which means the omni variants will run slightly hotter, by default.

I'd go for battlemech variants, since fast SRMer is the best way to roll with it. The Hero variant can actually do 2xUAC5s, while running at 110 kph, which is something we have never seen on 40-45 tonners.

Edited by El Bandito, 19 October 2017 - 05:22 AM.

[Paigan]

Battlemechs are usually better because Omnimechs have a lot of locked equipment and sometimes even stupid ones. E.g. having FF over ES is just 100% plain stup*d, given the current BT rules and MWO implementation.
(A very simple AND balanced AND lore-friendly AND realistic AND easy to code solution would be to have ES increase the receiving crit chance. Meaning it gets you more free tonnage, but it makes you more vulnerable, while FF would give a little less additional tonnage but without the additional downside. But that seems to be such a good solution that it is completely out of the question.)

For example compare the MAD-IIC with the WHK. Apart from having way superior hardpoints and hitboxes (somehow half the damage I get in the MAD-IIC is magically distributed to arms and legs, which makes that thing about twice as durable as the WHK), it has also more loadout flexibility but still the same loadout potential as the WHK. Configuring in more hardpoints via pods is also irrelevant when the "inferior" Battlemech is already drowned with more hardpoints than you can ever use.
You can change the engine rating to go either full weapon tonnage mode or to increase speed (my MAD IIC is almost as fast as a heavy) and you can even equip std engines for full tank mode. However often such things make sense or not: omnis don't even have the option to do it.
The introduction of the set-of-8-quirks even denies most Omnimech configurations the use of a (L)AMS, while the "inferior" Battlemechs have always at least one hardpoint for that.

In short: the MAD IIC can do EVERYTHING the WHK can but better and more.
When the WHK-C still had -13% energy heat, there was a niche left for it where it was better than the MAD-IIC. But now that they reduced that quirk to irrelevant -4% instead of reasonable -8-10%, the "high-tech" Omnimech is effectively officially just a bulky sucky limited MAD IIC.

It's similar with other Omnis, of course. Like KDK vs DWF.

Having the distinction inside the same chassis will just mean that the Omnimech variants generally suck and the Battlemach variants are generalls better. Safe for special cases like really good quirks or hardpoints on the omni or really bad hardpoints on the Battlemech.

Edited by Paigan, 19 October 2017 - 06:02 AM.

[Daggett]

The only advantage of omnimechs is to be able to configure a specific hardpoint-setup. With the introduction of clans it meant that they could have much more hardpoints than the IS-battlemechs. Even today there is no IS Mech in MWO with more than 9 energy hardpoints while some clan omnimechs can have up to 16.

But this advantage shrinks with each new battlemech release. Before the Arctic Wolf the Huntsman was the only clan-mech to be able to carry 8 missile hardpoints thanks to being an omni. Now the ACW-1 can fulfill many roles the Huntsman had (and more) which devalues the Huntsman chassis. And the Piranha-2 will do the same with the Viper in terms of energy hardpoints on fast mechs.

So an omnimech is only worthwhile as long as you can create hardpoint-setups which can't be covered by existing battlemechs. But this will become harder with each mech-release, so it's only a matter of time until most omnimechs will be replaced by more potent battlemechs.

Regarding the Arctic Wolf i currently like the battlemech variants more because i like the speed i can get with em. Especially the ACW-1 was the only reason for me to even buy the mechpack and not wait until cbill-release.

Edited by Daggett, 19 October 2017 - 06:03 AM.

[Paigan]

Daggett, on 19 October 2017 - 05:53 AM, said:

[...]
So an omnimech is only worthwhile as long as you can create hardpoint-setups which can't be covered by existing battlemechs. [...]

AND if the built-in drawbacks of the omni don't kill your desired loadout for that hardpoint-setup (e.g. Mr. Gargles or EXE)

[Bishop Steiner]

Bombast, on 19 October 2017 - 04:37 AM, said:

So, I was just wondering, for all the people who have the Arctic Wolf, which is better? Has the ability to change engines and structure made the Battlemech version better than the Omnimech version? Or does it make no difference? Or are the omnimechs better?

There used to be a lot of talk about how battlemechs were 100% superior to omnimechs. Seems like a chassis with both options would make for a good discussion.

Both?

They allow me to do totally different yet equally fun and effective builds. So far the P Omni and Base Battlemech versions have been the most fun to build.. hope to actually get more combat time in them over the next ffew days since I'm still in build and test mode, largely.

[KodiakGW]

Started to play with loadouts on Smurfy. Looks like having both Omni and Battlemech for one chassis broke it. Pick any Battlemech variant and no weapons are available. 'Tis OK, only preordered the base pack to get the pick a camo unlocks a while back, and not renege on my word in a post.

This might entice me to come back and play a few rounds....

*might*